“Remember to smile”

I can not recall where this story begins…But I somehow have heard it long long time…Comes to me as a tale which have rooted itself deep inside my soul….In the land of Japan and once upon time there was this lady, who made sure to wake up early every morning to great her town people with a smile> She also did the same when everyone returns from long day of harvesting and work. Again welcoming her people with a smile. A daily ritual that begins presenting nothing else but a smile to the people of her town and continued to do so for many years.

Then that face was no longer standing smiling with the first ray of sunlight. In fact her gentle smile was the ray of sunlight that energized each of who got a glimpse of her. The days started to crawl in silence and emptiness, naturally the town people noticed that she is no longer gifting the town with a smile. On asking about her, they got to know that she has been taken ill.

To those who have visited her were able to witness the remarkable

setofcandles
Originally uploaded by gtstuff.

altitude of her persona. On her tiny bed she lied their with her pale face, a feather with her tiny fragile body. Though she was ill she took on her to smile and strangely enough, she had one thing which she held tight to her a little note-book from time to time she will open and then will carry on smiling. No one knew what was written in her book till she died, that is when they gathered the courage to look. The book had just empty pages and on the first page there was only a line of three words “Remember to smile”

If this heart is aching
Carries many fatigue of pain
Whisper to it softly :
Remember to smile
Light up the flame inside
Flame of hope that ceases grief of time
Heals the sorrow blamed on life
To ease the earthly ride
Candling a laughter of a child
If it stops:
Remind this heart with pride
Once again to remember to smile
For each phase of life
Is a fading tide

copyright 2006 nasra al adawi

P.S. Thanks gtstuff for the photo